November 23rd, 2009 . 2:35 pm . By: Buzz Carrick

It was requested by a reader I do a Q&A on 3rd Degree.  It’s kinda Ives’ bit, but I figured why not.  So I posted a little blog note and got about 20 questions or so.  Here are your answers.

Question by JaredfromSA

I want to visit Pizza Hut Park as a supporter of FCD during the month of December. Can you take tours of the stadium?

I would like to catch an FCD practice on a Friday and then the opening game in March ‘10. I plan to bring my 3 year old son. Can I just show up at practice time and tell stadium staff I am a fan and wanted to check out the practice for a few minutes?

FC Dallas doesn’t really have organized tours of the stadium.  However, I am willing to predict that if you contact your ticket rep they will be happy to show you around almost any time.

Practice is open to fans (and media).  Check the schedule, I believe they post it on the blog each week, and make sure there is a session the day you are planning to come.  You have to stay outside the training field fence which is only a couple feet from the edge, but you can see great from there.  The players are almsot always happy to give autographs as they leave the field when training ends.

Question by Moose McDowell

Great idea – a Q&A thread from someone who actually likes MLS.

Let’s say Lee Nguyen doesn’t show up here. It’s rumored that both Conor Casey and GBS want trades. Could you see a situation where FCD would consider either one of these guys?

Thanks, but it wasn’t my idea.

Casey yes, Schelotto no.  Hyndman is looking for a new striker and Casey could be a guy he might like.  I don’t think it very likely, but Casey is a good fit.  Schelotto no, because the Crew (read: HSG) are trying to get a pay cut from him, he doesn’t want to stay in Cbus for less and won’t want to come here for less.

Plus FCD has a #10 in Ferreira.  Even if FCD were to lose Ferreira over cost, Schelotto wouldn’t be a potential solution because of cost.

Question by Make the Penalty Box Smaller

Can we make suggestion posts in the Q&A thread?

Like: We should make the penalty area smaller so that the goalkeeper doesn’t dominate one end of the field. Also, PKs would no longer be given for penalties at the far edges of the present area.

The Penalty spot should be moved back. Couple with the above, PKs would only be called on penalties closer to the goal. PKs would be more difficult to make & thus might be awarded more often (since the ref wouldn’t feel like he was awarding a goal).

I’m thinking reduce the area by 3-4 yards per direction, and move the spot back 2-4 yards. The ‘D’ would more truly look like a D.

Sure you can make suggestion.  As for your idea, I don’t know that PKs are that big a factor in the game.  From my couple years of experience as a ref (which makes me nothing like an expert), how easy it was to score never entered my mind.

In general terms I’m not on board with changing the rules of the game.  As little tinkering as possible is a good thing in my book.  I particularly don’t want MLS to become a rule testing league.

Question by 3nOut

What do you think SH plans to do w/ all that young talent he has riding on the pine?  I know it may not have been his decision to select the likes of Brek [Shea], [Josh] Lambo, and Eric [Avila], but they have talent.  How long till these guys get discouraged b/c SH keeps pulling guys from S. America to play instead of them?

It’s not that Hyndman dislikes youth, he just likes experience.  He’s looking for players in their prime.  However Hyndman has raved about Shea and Avila over the latter half of the season.  Those two are part of the plans for the future.  Both of them need to progress to force their way into the first XI.  Lambo FCD wants to get out on loan to get games.

As for the rest of the youth, look for some of it to be traded or even waived.  FCD needs some roster space and has to many Gas.  If a guy is getting zero PT, don’t expect to see him here much longer.

Question by Moose McDowell

If we’re going to ask questions outside FCD, like about making the penalty area smaller, here’s another question – what the hell is Bob Bradley telling his guys at the half that make them give up 3 goals within less than 10 minutes? Why can’t we hold a lead in an international game?

Playing on the road in Europe is very, very difficult and the US players aren’t mentally tough enough nor experienced enough.  Denmark is also good.

But that was a horrific meltdown and will really hurt the US chances for some of the players involved.

Question by Chris

How many fans will Houston bring up here for the opener?

I assume if we get our 15k like last year, the Dynamo will supply the other 5k. Voila, sell-out.

I don’t think it will be 5k.  With the loss of Ricardo Clark and Stuart Holden a little shine will be off Houston coming into the season.  Which doesn’t mean Kinner won’t figure out how to make a good team.

Question by Aaron

1. Who’s your favorite team, outside of FCD?

2. Who’s your pick to win the World Cup?

1. Newcastle United.

2. With the tournament not in Europe I’m going South American, which mean no Spain as good as they are.  I’d like to pick Argentina, but they are a mess right now.  So I’ll go with Brazil.

Yes, that’s weak.  I know.

Question by Streen

1. How is the television situation for 2010 looking? Any differences from 2009?

2. What Countries/Leagues is Dallas NOT looking at (if any)? Why?

3. How much silverware will it take to overlook not winning any for so long? Will it have to be consecutive?

4. Does the front office have any ideas a-brewing to take advantage of the next World Cup craze?

5. SH mentioned hiring a fitness coach. Has one been hired? How much of a difference will this coach make next season? If no difference is made, what do you think FCD’s problem is then?

6. Does Clark occasionally send postcards to the owners of Colorado, Chicago and Houston with the message, “Just a reminder–y’all still suck”?

1. No schedule so no TV yet.  But I’m going with no difference.  HSG is still HSG.

2. Mexico.  Mexican players are, generally speaking, to expensive.

3. I don’t think winning silverware will make that big a difference in Dallas.  Winning consistently will help certainly, Dallas loves teams that win.  But I also think Dallas is a conservative, “anti-socialist sport of soccer” kind of place.  Dallas will never be one of the best supported teams in MLS.

4. They better.

5. Not yet.  The Michael Johnson Center people will be involved as advisors in the hire.  But don’t look for anything to move on this until after the coaching staff finishes scouting college soccer.  So maybe a week or two after the College Cup.

I think it will be a big help, I felt all year, and for a couple years now, that FCD wasn’t fit enough.  Getting the team fit enough will help prevent late goal, and FCD will hold leads better and blow fewer games.  It will also help them steal a game or two late.  Plus it will make Pizza Hut Park a tough place for road teams if FCD is fitter and can handle the heat.

6. No.  Clark ignore FCD for the most part.  Dan Hunt is more involved in day to day small decision.  Clark only gets involved for the major ones like changing coaches or GMs.

Question by Hilltopper Soccer

1) Any chance that FCD will form an affiliation with a PDL team such as the DFW Tornados or form its own PDL team and allow the reserves to play?

2) Has anybody in the organization ever thought of having double headers at PHP in the fall with SMU? SMU would need to play a big name opponent of course.

SMU vs. Duke – 5:00 pm
FCD vs. LA 7:30 pm

Makes for good night of soccer?

1. Yes, a PDL team is the next step in the youth development process. It’s the missing link and is a priority for the organization over the next year or so.

2. I believe by NCAA rule you can’t have that kind of doubleheader.  At least not one where there was paid attendance.  Professional team + paid gate = NCAA trouble.  A free open gate showcase of scrimmages? Sure.

Question by Casey C.

Why doesn’t MLS just take the hit a DP takes on the salary cap and lower it or wash it away? It seems like a totally logical way to encourage teams to go out and get someone important, who they have to pay big money too, but not have to kill the team at the same time.

Cause the Hunts and Kraft are militant about keeping salaries in check.  They don’t want their teams to pay big salaries over the cap to star players.  Making a rule where AEG teams would have no penalty at all on the cap would make for competitive imbalance as AEG teams would stack DPs and still have a ton of cap for skilled players and the HSG/Kraft teams would still be running normal teams under the cap.

Imagine LA Galaxy, if you will, with both Beckham and Donovan and yet still having another 800k to add players.  That’s four more 200k players… LA could add a Cunningham, a van den Bergh, a McCarty, and a Pearce for that.  See what I mean?

Question by futuregrace

Has it been suggested you do a Q & A thread?
Any chance the either jersey will be worth purchasing this year or will it look like ever other jersey before it, hoops?

Um, yes.

Yes it will be worth purchasing, because it will be hoops.

Question by just wondering

1. Does [Jeff] Cunningham’s goal vs. Denmark give him the edge in the competition to replace Davies for the world cup?
2. Why is the sky blue, and how can we blame Hyndman for it?

1. No.  But it does give him a good chance to make the usual January US camp.  In order for Cunningham to make the World Cup team he will need to be leading MLS in scoring when the final prep camp for the Cup starts.  And that still might not do it.

Under Bradley (and Arena) the US camp and team is as much about Chemistry as anything, a lesson from the Harkes/Wynalda era.  How you fit the system and play with the current team (read: Landon Donovan) makes the biggest difference in getting called.  See Ching, Brian.

2. Water vapor in the air.  You can’t blame Hyndman, he’s not that old.

Question by B4Burn

Is the world really going to end in 2012. Do we have a date? How should I schedule my vacation time?

Yes.  You should take a one way trip to Antarctica.  It’s the only place that will survive.

Question by historian

1. Will 2010 be the year Dallas finally gets to MLS Cup?

2. Where does the agreement with River Plate currently sit? Last time we heard (several months ago), FCD said the announcement was imminent.

3. Any chance a DP is signed for the 2010 season?

4. Any chance HSG hires someone with a proven track record in MLS to help Wagner figure out running a soccer team?

1. No.  FCD has to learn how to win in the playoffs.

2. The deal was/is imminent if you believe Hitchcock.  But the economy went off the rails.  This is particularly true in Argentina football.  River just has too many other problems right at this minute.  However there is a good relationship between River and FCD.  FCD has used their coaching staff and front office as a resource a couple times this year for various things.

3. A DP? No.

A max salary player? Sure.

4. No.  That’s what Hyndman is for in the Hunts’ mind.

Question by Jayhawk1106

Who do you think would make a perfect DP for FC Dallas?

Perfect? Hum.  I’ve said a couple times before that I’m not on board with a end of career hype signing.  Your Beckham or the rumored NY signing Thierry Henry.  I prefer to spend the money on a prime of career player in the late mid to late 20s.  I would shoot for someone from Central or South America, maybe Africa.  Striker or midfielder with an attacking flare.  Someone worth a couple mil.  This is not the kind of player you have heard of, but should be one of if not the best player in MLS.

Question by soccerroo

Any word or thoughts on who the Soccer director is going to be?

I think it will be someone from Hyndman’s SMU family.  A Kevin Grimes type if you will, but probably not Kevin Grimes who has a really good job already.

Question by Make the Penalty Area Smaller

We’ve seen players cheat in the World Cup and now the qualifiers too often. Something needs to be done. My suggestion is that any intentional hand ball to score or stop a goal that is not called by the ref result in a ban/suspension of the offending player for at least 3 games – more would be better. And I’m not talking about the next 3 friendlies. I think Henry should be suspended for at least the round-robin portion of the WC.

I don’t think a ban will be reasonable for something that is only a slight foul.  If there wasn’t a goal resulting soon afterward in a World Cup elimination game this would be a non-issue.  Only the magnitude of the event makes this important.  Different penalties based on importance of event won’t work and you can’t have a simple hand ball be worth three games under “normal” circumstances.

But I won’t be at all surprised when this gets video review into international level soccer.  Maybe starting with goal reviews, perhaps cards and sending off of players.  It will be interesting to see what happen.

I am expecting FIFA to rule for a replay at this point.

Question by Teddy

I agree with Make. There should be post-game video review of intentional foul play. While it should not change the result of any given game, the offender should suffer some adverse consequences when foul play is accompanied with intent (other than public moral outcry). As it stands right now, the only real deterrence to cheating is the risk of getting caught.

Buzz, what’s the status on post-game review MLS-wise?

MLS has a fines/penalties review committee.  They can and do look at video of games and add to, or reduce, suspensions.  Individual teams can and do request review of incidents.  The committee also chooses to review incidents at their own digression.  They can and do fine player for incidents that were not called as fouls during the game.

Categories: 120 Fahrenheit.

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